We love hearing about new bands, but this is taking the biscuit as all the members are far newer than my 50 years. Essentially a bunch of frustratingly talented schoolkids, retsecroW(s) have made a big splash recently and for all the right reasons. We are delighted to feature them as a Headline Act!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We’re from Wyre Forest in Worcestershire, right in the heart of the West Midlands – and yes, home to a deep rock and metal heritage!
How did you meet?
Luca (vocals and rhythm guitar) and George (drums) knew each other through school. They met Ollie (lead guitar) and Alexie (bass) at Load Street Studios in Kidderminster, where we jammed together, and over time, things naturally developed into the band we are today.
How long have you been playing as a band?
We formed in July 2022 and played our first gig at a festival in Bewdley that September, so we’ve been going strong for over two years now.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Glad you asked! Retsecrows is “Worcester” spelled backward with an “s” added because there are four of us. It captures where we’re from and has a little twist – like our music. We’re really proud of the name because it’s different and people always ask us about it…and it looks cool on a t-shirt.
What are your influences?
Our influences cover a range of rock and metal styles, each bringing something unique. Luca leans toward brutal beats, shreds, and dark vibes, drawing inspiration from bands like Sleep Token and Sylosis. Alexie goes for modern rock basslines similar to Linkin Park’s style. Ollie’s into melodic, catchy sounds influenced by Red Hot Chili Peppers, while George is all about delivering powerful rhythms that drives our sound.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We mix gritty metal and guitar-driven rock with our own twist. We’re loud, raw, and love blending covers with our originals. Audiences often say we have a mature sound for our age and that we bring high energy every time we play. We also have deep respect for the legends who came before us, especially with the Midlands’ rich metal heritage. In our live shows, we pay tribute to icons like Judas Priest and Black Sabbath to honour that legacy.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Our lyrics can be intense – they touch on life, struggles, and resilience. Our first single, Grief Of Me, captures themes of emotional strength and working through tough times. We aim to keep it honest and relatable.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Our live show is all about energy. We’ve played around 20 gigs this year alone, including shows across the West Midlands, and have supported bands like Not Now Norman and Kim Jannett. Playing live is where we come alive – we’re always in the moment, connecting with the crowd. 45 Live in Kidderminster feels like our home venue, and launching our single Blood Sea there to a packed, intense crowd was unforgettable. We also love playing The Marrs Bar in Worcester; our November gig supporting Faux Fighters was packed and electric.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
There have been some wild moments! Luca loves getting off stage to play in the crowd – at Saltfest in Droitwich, he was spinning around so much he lost the stage and almost crashed into George’s drum kit. At Kidderminster Music Festival, a guy jumped in for an air guitar solo with us, and it somehow sounded epic! And then there was Halloween, when George took on this “demon dog” persona mid-song, which took things to a whole new level. We also get hyped when fans bring signs or start a mosh pit for our songs; seeing that energy keeps us going!
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Luca plays a Manson MB1 guitar with a Laney Ironheart loudpedal running through a Laney cab, which gives him that dark, intense sound he loves. Ollie uses an Ibanez guitar paired with a Marshall amp for his soaring leads. Alexie holds down the low end with an ESP LTD bass into a Laney amp. As for George, he’s all about volume and power – he uses Vic Firth sticks, loves Evans heads, and will drum on anything as long as it’s loud and hard!
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our latest single has been out for two months now, and it’s still getting radio plays and just hit 2,500 streams on Spotify, so we’re definitely still plugging that. But right now, it’s all about the gigs – we’re wrapping up 2024 and booking into 2025, with some epic shows lined up and a monster festival appearance we can’t wait to announce! So we’re mainly pushing the live shows and growing our social media to keep everyone updated.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
We’re taking about six weeks off gigging over Christmas and January to dive into The Vault, a rehearsal space in Kidderminster. We’ll be working on new material and refreshing our live show, so 2025 will kick off with a fresh set that includes new covers and more originals, letting us play longer, more dynamic shows. There’s definitely been a demand for more of our original music, and with the response to Blood Sea and Grief of Me, we’re inspired to keep pushing forward. We’re aiming to release an EP next year, carefully developing each track through live performances until we’re ready to record with Jay at SLL Studios, who’s like an honorary Retsecrow. When we release a song, we go all in to get it heard by as many people as possible.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you?
It’s a tough one because we all have such different tastes! Luca would go for Sleep Token, Alexie would pick Linkin Park, Ollie would choose Foo Fighters, and George would want Slipknot. For the opener, we’d love to spotlight a local Kidderminster band like us trying to break through, or one of the bands who’ve shown us kindness and support, like Not Now Norman, These Wicked Rivers, or Kensei.
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If you want to check out more new music, then fire up our Headline Act playlists on Spotify and YouTube!
